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Parenting

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Original poster

No sleep!

23 replies

MommaBearKOE · 22/08/2018 19:15

Sorry for the essay but I'm going out of my mind.
So basically dd2 is 3 weeks old and she doesn't seem to ever sleep for significant periods of time. I know it's normal for newborns to be up for feeds every few hours but I'm talking minutes. She seems constipated, she's formula fed and she has a dirty nappy once a day which she strains and screams and grunts the whole time shes doing that. She has hiccups constantly, which makes it hard for her to sleep. When she feeds it's like she's starving, she's trying so hard to suck as hard as possible at the bottle but also seems like it's hurting her? Like she'll be frantic to get this milk into her but also gagging, pulling her head away and crying. She never settles on her back which is a problem because obviously it's not safe to put her to sleep on her belly. She'll fall into a deep sleep, I'll put her in the Moses basket and 5 mins later she's whining and flailing her arms about which progresses into full blown screaming. I have told the HV and dhse basically keeps saying it'll sort itself out but I have 2 other children who need looked after so I'm up all day, I can't sleep when baby sleeps during the day and at night dd2 makes sure I don't get to rest then either. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had experience with this, what happened and any tips would be gratefully received!

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whatthefoxsaid · 22/08/2018 19:20

Sounds like reflux OP, have you been to the gp?

Singlenotsingle · 22/08/2018 19:21

Sounds like she got wind, especially when she pulls her head away, gags and cries. Have you tried putting her in a sling against your chest? It's inconvenient but better than having to listen to her crying

Strawbe · 22/08/2018 19:22

I second whatthefoxsaid... sounds v like my DS' symptoms of silent reflux

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KoshaMangsho · 22/08/2018 19:22

Sounds particularly like silent reflux.

whatthefoxsaid · 22/08/2018 19:27

Sorry I rushed that a bit, my DD was v similar and had reflux and CMPA. If you have a Google there's a symptom checker for both.
The hiccups and trouble lying down were markers, along with dreadful nappies and trouble going and frantic feeding--I think it soothes the burn. It was hard to distinguish the allergy with the reflux but once I got the reflux under control, it was an obvious allergy.
In the meantime you could try keeping upright for 20 mins or so after feeds and propping the cot up a little at one end. We went straight on ranitidine but I hear some find infant gaviscon helpful. Good luck and congratulations on your baby!

ifoundthebread · 22/08/2018 19:36

My son has reflux and was similar to this around that time. Have you tried changing bottles or using something like dentinox to help with the wind? If so, try stay away from infacol. Due to the orangey flavouring it can be slightly acidic and add to the issue of reflux.

Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 22/08/2018 19:42

Thanks so much for the quick replies!
We bought the tommee tippee advanced comfort bottles but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference. And infacol is the only thing we have tried because the HV seems dead set against giving her anything for it. I'll book an appointment with the GP about it and hopefully we'll get sorted from there.

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whatthefoxsaid · 22/08/2018 19:47

I know they are there to help, but listen to your gut as well as your hv. I had two doctors and a mw tell me there was nothing wrong with DD but I knew there was something and it wasn't just colic.
MAM bottles have been great for us in terms of reducing wind. We never got on with infacol but a bit of gripe water used to do the trick, it's a bit of a minefield trying things out but follow your instincts. Gp will likely be more sympathetic as she's your third but don't be fobbed off!

Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 22/08/2018 19:54

I'll have a look into those bottles and a sling as well, thank you

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Strawbe · 22/08/2018 20:19

You're right to talk to the GP. My DS was prescribed infant gaviscon and it helped instantly... his symptoms were gagging, lots of hiccups and thrashing around/grunting/crying when I lay him on his back (even if I waited until he was asleep), as well as crying after feeds. As soon as he was taking gaviscon he was able to lie down and was happier all round.

I think some people are skeptical of silent reflux, esp. as they don't actually vomit and their weight gain is usually ok.... Obviously it may not be reflux (silent or otherwise), but definitely worth a conversation...

spacepoodle · 22/08/2018 20:28

It does sound like silent reflux but it could also be chronic over-tiredness if she's not settling at all.

My first had reflux. We tried so many different types of bottles and finally settled with Dr. Browns. We also switched to HIPP Organic milk which seemed to help (although could've been a coincidence due to the other things we were trying). Infacol did nothing and I don't think there's any evidence to prove it actually works? Gripe water made him spectacularly sick and Colief made him spectacularly pooey. He napped really well in the sling during the day and we also got a swinging chair which he would sleep in occasionally. At night we'd raise one end of the cot, use a Miracle Blanket, white noise and a dummy. We'd also hold him upright for 20 minutes after feeds.

I now have a 9 week old who only wants to sleep on me and is screaming/back arching/refusing the teat so am repeating all of the above! Good luck!

elmo1980 · 22/08/2018 20:33

Both of my ds had this, the first one we went down the medication route: gaviscon then rinitadine, plenty of infacol and gripe water. The medication didn't do much other than upset his bowels which was worse than the reflux so we gave up and waited for it to sort itself out which was tough going.

Second ds we were tined into the symptoms straight away and just changed his milk to anti reflux (aptimil). Took a while to figure out that as it was thicker milk it needed a bigger size teat but now we have it works a treat and hes not suffering at all now.

So many different ways of approaching it just find what works for you. Good luck.

Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 22/08/2018 20:38

Thank you all so much I'm just relieved to know that there's a possibility we can make her feel better. I was braced for the "newborns don't sleep" comments and although I'm aware they don't sleep much I know there's something bothering my baby and if there's the slightest possibility that we can ease it for her then I'm happy. Thanks everyone

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Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 29/08/2018 12:57

I persisted with the GP and finally got prescribed infant gaviscon. I was so excited making up her feed because I thought this was the start of things getting better. Well, she hates it! Took half a bottle and decided she didn't like it so now absolutely refuses to drink the milk when the gaviscon is in there. Next stop is anti reflux milk but that's only if I can make it to the shop without collapsing from exhaustion

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ifoundthebread · 30/08/2018 08:26

Pleased the gp finally listened to your concerns, gaviscon made my son really constipated. Fingers crossed the comfort milk works, I'd advise washing the bottles ASAP once they're finished with, the milk is awful

Strawbe · 30/08/2018 09:56

Re the infant gaviscon - DS hated it too, but he got used to it fairly quickly. However I was BF'ing at the time so used have to give it to him using a syringe - could you try that? There are instructions on the back, although I guess you should check with your GP/Hv first. She may object to begin with, but that might be worth a try?

Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 31/08/2018 10:44

I gave the syringing a go but i think gaviscon is just something she's not gonna tolerate lol she's not having it! I'm gonna buy the sma reflux milk and try that, if that doesn't agree with her the go suggested carobel so i have a few options yet and I'm determined to get her settled. It's awful because it feels like these lovely cuddly first few weeks have been ruined. She seems so unhappy

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Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 31/08/2018 10:44

*GP not go
Also thank you for your suggestions!

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whatthefoxsaid · 31/08/2018 20:24

DD objected to ranitidine for a while at first- syringe into the cheek if you haven't tried this already? It's strong/weird in flavour but I told myself if was for her benefit and once she'd had it was so much better.
Re carobel, it's a thickening powder so useful if your baby is vomiting a lot but could add to the constipation issue.
Give the reflux milk a go and see how you get on- I know that's thicker too to help with puking but I'm not sure about any anti acidic properties? It sounds like the acid is causing a lot of your problems to me but you know your baby!

Original poster

MommaBearKOE · 31/08/2018 22:01

Oh, what is ranitidine? My GP hasn't mentioned that

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ifoundthebread · 31/08/2018 22:22

@whatthefoxsaid we use carobel and yes it's a thickening powder, but it also has a side effect of loose stools. Mix that with the constipation off of gaviscon and you get a good balance, well that's how it's worked for us.

Jellybabie3 · 31/08/2018 22:39

My son (10.5mp) had had ranitidine pretty much from day dot for silent reflux. We use a syringe to the inside cheek. It is strong but hes used to it now and takes it no problem. Its been really good at calming his symptoms minus the bad spells when he has a cold etc. We tried omeprazole at one point but it was a defo no go for DS.
We also swear by gripe water. My DS was given this before bed every night until weaning at 6mo and it was a miracle solution for wind. We brought the boots version as it was cheaper and more palatable..

DS is nearly 11 mo and will be weaned off ranitidine next month. Its a tough call getting a silent reflux baby (lots of night waking) but hang in there OP.

whatthefoxsaid · 01/09/2018 16:39

Really ifoundthebread I didn't know that was a side effect! We had the opposite!
Ranitidine is the same stuff we take for heartburn & indigestion in the tablets but for littlies they give it as a liquid.
Good luck weaning off it Jelliebabie3 it took us a few attempts but we got there and DD is totally fine without it. Dairy is another matter!

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